Detroit Pistons' losing streak tied to shooting woes of starters

Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy, after practice Dec. 13, says the team gave in during its 103-84 loss to the Nuggets. He also discusses moving Stanley Johnson to the bench and whether he's worried about finger-pointing.
Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press

With one of the NBA’s worst five-man lineups among high-usage units, Detroit Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy was forced to try something different Tuesday night to try and end his team's six-game losing streak.

Into the lineup came Reggie Bullock at small forward and out went Stanley Johnson.

It didn’t help as the team turned in its worst performance of the season. The Denver Nuggets handed the Pistons (14-13) a 19-point thumping at Little Caesars Arena to extend the losing streak to seven.

The other starters — Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond, Avery Bradley and Tobias Harris — combined to shoot 7-for-31 from the field and committed 15 turnovers.

After Wednesday’s practice, Van Gundy reiterated that he can juggle the lineup all he wants, but there is no path to permanent success unless the foursome plays well.

“Yeah, we can do whatever we want to do with the lineup, but the bottom line is to be a good team, (they) need to play well consistently,” Van Gundy said. “If they don’t, and don’t play hard or whatever, we can put other guys in there, but we’re not going very far. Those guys are our best players.”

The Pistons' offense has plummeted, ranking last in field goal percentage and offensive rating during the losing skid. And the four Pistons’ struggles reached a nadir the last two games when they made only 18 shots — an unacceptably low number.

“I’m not trying to blame them, but that’s just fact,” Van Gundy said. “When we were 14-6, those guys were playing well.”

Jackson said following the game: “It’s starting to be a little frustrating the way we’re coming out. We’re not coming out swinging. Just got to do what we’ve got to do — come out and just fight, kick, scratch, scream and find a way to be the aggressor.”

Bradley’s dropoff is the most dramatic. After a strong start to the season, he’s shooting 30.3 percent from 3-point range and 33.7 percent from the field during the skid — dreadful numbers.

But help from the bench isn’t coming for the Pistons — or at least Van Gundy doesn’t think so.

“Everybody wants the backup quarterback,” Van Gundy said. “Well, that’s great, but if your starting quarterback, the guy with the most talent, doesn’t play better, the backup might be a little better in the end, but you’re not going to be good. Your best players have to play well.”

Van Gundy did say he would tweak offensive sets starting Thursday night when the Pistons visit the Atlanta Hawks.

“We will shift our priorities in terms of play calling,” Van Gundy said. “Run some things more, run some things less, not run some things. I don’t think our offensive approach has been good enough to help these guys, so you’ll see a difference there.”

Masked man

Backup power forward Anthony Tolliver suffered a broken nose after taking a shot to the face against the Nuggets.

Van Gundy said Tolliver was able to practice Wednesday. He was fitted with a mask and was a full participant in a lively practice.